The objective of this track is to explore the policies that are being adopted for the acquisition and improvement of key competencies. One of the key issues should be the impact of those policies.

•Issues: what are differences between key competencies, key skills, essential skills and core skills? How to get the commitment of key stake-holders? The role of key competencies in social inclusion and lifelong learning. Benchmark of regional, national and sectoral policies.

The objective of this track is to explore the role of key competencies in supporting active citizenship.

•Issues: preservation of cultural identity and heritage. Encouragement of active citizenship. Accessibility and gender issues related to lifelong competence development – equality of opportunity for under-represented or marginalised groups. community learning: collaboration and informal learning by community groups.

The objective of this track is to explore the challenges of raising the level of key competencies in order to contribute to individual employability, organisational development and regional/national prosperity.

•Issues: making competencies visible on a territory. Competency and talent management. Identification, development, anticipation of change and emerging competencies. Public/private partnerships at local, regional and inter-regional levels. Raising the level of key competencies in SMEs (small and medium enterprises). Targeting key groups for social and economic inclusion: migrants, older workers, unemployed, people with disabilities.

The objective of this track is to explore challenges and successes in the development of key skills in education, the world of work and the community, the role of key competencies in community learning: collaboration and informal learning by community groups.

•Issues: getting the key competencies for the job market. Providing support for formal, non-formal and informal development. Encouraging autonomous, self-directed and self-managed development. Applying new methodologies and practices related to learning, competence development and knowledge management. Learners’ rights and responsibilities in developing key competencies. The role of on the job learning and work experience in education.